923–937 AD: Internal Strife and the Shadow of the Abkhazian Kings

King David II inherited the crown from his father, Adarnase IV, but he inherited a crown of thorns. While Adarnase had been the great restorer, David II spent his reign struggling to hold the kingdom together against external aggression and internal dissent.

David II bore the title of King of the Iberians, but in reality, his power was confined to the Tao-Klarjeti region. The heartland of Kartli was under the control of the expansionist Kingdom of Abkhazia, ruled by the powerful George II. David’s reign is a study in survival politics.

The War of the Brothers

David’s authority was not even absolute within his own family. While he held the royal title, the Byzantine title of Curopalates—which carried immense prestige and Roman financial support—was given not to him, but to his brother Ashot II. This Byzantine strategy of “divide and conquer” weakened the Georgian monarchy significantly.

David II was essentially a king without the full backing of the West (Byzantium) and under constant threat from the West (Abkhazia). Despite this, he managed to maintain the continuity of the royal line, ensuring that the title of King did not disappear again.

A Legacy of Endurance

Though not a conqueror, David II’s importance lies in his endurance. He kept the flame of the monarchy alive during a “dark age” of Georgian fragmentation. He reinforced the monastic life in Tao, understanding that the Church was the only institution that truly united the fractured Georgian lands.

His death in 937 without a son led to the passing of the crown to his brother, Bagrat I, continuing the complex game of Bagrationi succession.